Decision Summary HPA No. 94-157 through 94-175

Applicant filed a Motion for Modification of the Mayor’s Agent’s Decision and Order of July 24, 1994 (approving Applicant’s requests for total and partial demolition and new construction to construct a project of special merit) so that it could dismantle, catalog, and store the façades of three buildings while the buildings were demolished. Based on testimony from the D.C. Chief Building Inspector and Applicant’s experts that leaving the façades in place during demolition would present an imminent danger to public health, the Mayor’s Agent concluded that Applicant’s plans were an appropriate response to the situation and consistent with the Order of July 24, 1994.

Façade:

The Mayor’s Agent allowed Applicant’s Motion for Modification of the Decision and Order of July 24, 1994 (approving Applicant’s requests for total and partial demolition and new construction to construct a project of special merit). The modified plan called for dismantling, cataloging, and storing the façades of three buildings while the buildings were demolished since it was discovered that leaving the façades in place during demolition would present an imminent danger to public health.

Mayor’s Agent—Procedural:

• It is indisputable that the District’s Chief building Inspector can order the demolition of any imminently dangerous building. Given this, the Mayor’s Agent concluded that had the deterioration of the building Applicant sought to demolish while retaining its façade been extreme, there would have been no need for the Applicant to file a motion for modification.

• The Mayor’s Agent concluded that it was appropriate to decide Applicant’s motion without a full hearing given the threat to public safety (per the testimony of the D.C. Chief Building Inspector), the lack of opposition to the original application, and the current proposal’s consistency with the original order.

Prior and Subsequent History:

See HPA No. 94-157 through 94-175 order of July 28, 1994 for prior history and HPA No. 94-157 through 94-175 order of November 8, 1996 for subsequent history.